Blizzard’s Overwatch Shows Off Two New Characters, Beta Announced

Overwatch is Blizzard’s new first-person co-op game that will have players take the role of various ‘heroes’ and complete objective based game modes. Blizzard has announced a few new characters joining the frey as well as a beta that will take place in the fall.

Overwatch so far has two modes that have been shown off, Payload a bomb planting mission where one team attacks by guarding a bomb that is on a fixed track to it’s location when allies are near it, while the other defends. The other mode is the simplistic Point Capture, which like the name suggests, requires players to capture points on the map to win. The diversity in heroes available allows for tactics and teamwork. Each hero has unique abilities and a set class role.

Newly announced Zarya is a Russian soldier that takes on the role of a tank. Her particle cannon has short range damage but it can also emit a personal shield that protects her. Alternatively, she can shoot the personal barrier to another player and shield them from damage. Her ultimate ability (special) is Gravity Bomb, which draws in and traps enemies and deals damage while they are stuck. Check Zarya in action below.

McCree is a bounty hunter from New Mexico, which can explain his very ‘western’ look. His trusty six-shooter, Peacekeeper allows him to fire individual bullets or knock the hammer down and fire off the entire round in quick succession. McCree’s Combat Roll ability allows him to reload and get out of sticky situations all in one foul swoop and his flashbang stuns enemies. His ultimate ability is DeadEye which has him unload on any enemies in his line of sight, the weaker they are the quicker he lines up the sights for a killshot. Check him out in action below.

Overwatch has no set release date, and is so far only known to be in development on PC. Blizzard has not revealed plans for pricing or if the game will utilize a free-to-play model. Fans can sign up for the Beta which is set for this fall, on the official page.